Karnataka - Hassan   

Eshwarappa sees Congress hand in riots

Staff Correspondent

Congress trying to take advantage of Datta Mala issue, says Minister

HASSAN: Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said the Congress, which failed to cash in on bribery charges levelled by BJP MLC, Janardhana Reddy against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, was now trying to take advantage of Datta Mala issue in Chikmagalur and communal riots in Dakshina Kannada.

Mr. Eshwarappa, who visited Yagachi Reservoir, on his way to Taraka Reservoir in H.D. Kote, where a crest gate collapsed on Friday, told presspersons that the Opposition party was trying to tarnish the image of JD(S)-BJP coalition Government by engineering issues one after the other.

The Congress, which lost power, had become desperate and with no issues on hand to embarrass the government, opposition leaders were raising issues such as Datta Peetha, which he said was a non-issue.

When asked whether the BJP had compromised on its agenda of "liberating Datta-Peetha" as claimed by some of party leaders, he said: "There is no question of compromise, we have deferred the issue temporarily as we don't have enough strength to take decision of the kind and are duty bound to honour coalition "dharma".

Reacting to communal disturbance in Mangalore, he alleged that the Opposition party hatched a conspiracy by engineering communal riots and alleged the involvement of an Ullal Congress legislator in the riot.

However, he parried the question on what was preventing the coalition government from arresting the person involved.

Irrigation projects

Referring to the languishing irrigation projects in the distric, including construction of Yagachi Left Bank Canal (YLBC) from 83rd to 100 km and Halebid-Madihalli Lift Irrigation Scheme, he said funds would be allocated for completing work on the YLBC and work on Halebid-Madihalli would be taken up after getting a final verdict from Cauvery River Water Tribunal.

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